Yankees' Aaron Judge cites 'bigger ultimate goal' for skipping World Baseball Classic

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While Team USA has a stacked roster for the World Baseball Classic, it's missing one of the top American baseball players in Aaron Judge.

The New York Yankees slugger just had one of the best seasons of all time, blasting a new American League record 62 home runs while just narrowly missing out on the Triple Crown.

The American League MVP, though, has opted to sit out next month's WBC after signing a nine-year, $360 million contract to stay in the Bronx. He was also named the 16th captain in franchise history, the first since Derek Jeter, who played in the WBC in 2006 and 2009.

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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees in action against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium Sept. 5, 2022, in New York City. The Yankees defeated the Twins 5-2. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

"It would be an honor to represent my country and play in that," Judge told FOX Sports. "But my main goal is what I can do here in New York and what I can do to bring a championship back here. I think especially after signing a nine-year contract, for me, priorities are New York. Maybe four years down the road, hopefully I can still make the team and get an opportunity to play. But, right now for me, my focus is here.

"My focus is on New York and, especially being named captain, I didn’t want to miss any time at spring training. There’s so many young guys here that I’ve only seen on Twitter or the prospect reports. I want to get a chance to be around these young guys and get to know them and kind of show them what we do here."

The United States won the last World Baseball Classic in 2017, the same season Judge hit 52 home